Museum display case with filtration system and climate control system

ABSTRACT

A museum display case includes a display space, a filtration system and a climate control system to treat air in the display space. The display case also includes a first air circulation circuit and a second air circulation circuit, which are separate from each other and both originating and terminating in the display space. The filtration system is included in the first air circulation circuit and the climate control system is included in the second air circulation circuit. By providing two independent and separate circulation circuits it is possible to operate such circuits at different intervals, each according to its respective needs, thus avoiding, for example, unnecessary activation of filtration due to the need to intervene on climate control or vice versa.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to Italian Patent Application No. 102022000013564 filed on Jun. 27, 2022 and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a museum display case, i.e., a display case designed and constructed for the conservation and display in a protected environment of cultural heritage goods, such as works of art, historical artefacts and the like, within the context of an exhibition environment such as a museum, exhibition or the like. The term display case alone will be sometimes used below for the sake of brevity, although it still means a museum display case.

BACKGROUND

Protected environment means herein and below an environment in which the atmosphere can be controlled, by monitoring one or more parameters among temperature, humidity, dust content, and pollutant content, in order to maintain the required preservation conditions of the displayed objects, and in which the possibility of access to unauthorized personnel is prevented, to avoid theft or damage to the displayed objects.

Display case of this type must therefore meet different requirements, in relation to conservation and integrity of the objects displayed. Furthermore, these display cases must of course ensure the best visibility for the objects displayed. In order to maintain the desired climatic and air purity conditions in the display case, an air circulation system is normally provided, which takes air from the display space of the display case, feeds it into a circulation circuit where the air is treated and finally returns it to the display space. In the circulation path, all the necessary equipment for air treatment is active; this may include climate control and filtration systems. Climate control systems may comprise—for example—a dehumidification system (which may be passive, e.g. a tray containing silica gel or other hygroscopic material, or active, with an active relative humidity control machine. Filtration systems can include filters of various kinds, depending on the substances to be removed from the air.

The presence of these systems obviously affects the cost of the display case, but even more so the running costs of the display case over time, in terms of the absorption of electricity by the various active systems, the consumption of hygroscopic material, the periodic replacement of static filters, and the maintenance of the machines.

SUMMARY

The problem underlying the present disclosure is to reduce the operating costs of such a museum display case by improving the efficiency of use of each component.

This problem is solved, in accordance with the disclosure, by a display case according to the embodiments shown in the present specification, claims and drawings.

More particularly, a museum display case according to the disclosure comprises a display space, a filtration system and a climate control system for treating the air in the display space, and is characterised in that it comprises a first air circulation circuit and a second air circulation circuit, separate from each other but both originating and terminating in the display space, wherein the filtration system is included in the first air circulation circuit and the climate control system is included in the second air circulation circuit.

The inventor realised that filtration requirements are often very different from climate control requirements. Both certainly depend on the environmental climate conditions and the conservation requirements of the exhibits, but in a way that is not necessarily equal; the inventor noted that very often for adequate climate control of the air in the display case, it is necessary to treat the air much more frequently than is required for adequate filtration.

The provision of two independent and separate circulation circuits makes it possible to operate them at different intervals, each according to their respective needs, thus avoiding, for example, filtration being unnecessarily activated due to the need to intervene on climate control or vice versa.

Preferably, each air circulation circuit comprises a respective pumping system to move air within the circuit from an intake port facing into the display space to a delivery port facing into the display space. In this way, the air flow in each air circulation circuit can be better controlled, according to specific requirements.

Preferably, the intake port of each circuit is in a remote position with respect to the delivery port of the same circuit. This positioning ensures that there is an adequate exchange of air within the display space, avoiding freshly treated air being immediately returned to the circulation circuit to the detriment of the air already present in the display space.

In a preferred configuration, the display case has at least one opaque vertical wall, and each air circulation circuit comprises a section extending in the opaque vertical wall; one from between the intake port and the delivery port of each circuit is located at the top of the display space, and the other from between the intake port and the delivery port is located at the bottom of the display space. It is in fact advantageous to exploit the opaque vertical wall so that the intake and delivery ports can be spaced vertically apart, thus involving the entire volume of the display space more effectively in the air exchange.

Preferably, the delivery ports of both circuits are located at the top of the display space, while the intake ports of both circuits are located at the bottom of the display space. This arrangement is preferred because the extended sections in the opaque vertical wall are under pressure, whereas with an inverted arrangement they would be in depression and thus the air circulation in the circuit would be less regular.

In another preferred configuration, the display case has all-transparent vertical walls; the intake port and delivery port of each circuit are both located at the bottom of the display space. This configuration, although less effective from the point of view of air exchange, is often preferred because it ensures the best visibility of the objects displayed in the display case.

In a preferred embodiment, the filtration system comprises a simple passive mechanical filter, which is sufficient to meet most filtering needs. Alternatively, the filtration system may comprise a complex filtering machine, suitably designed and structured to remove specific substances that are harmful to the objects displayed in the display case. When a filtering machine is planned, it is advantageous for it to include the pumping system in order to guarantee the most suitable air flow for the filtering machine itself.

Preferably, the climate control system includes a compartment containing hygroscopic material and/or a machine for controlling humidity and/or air temperature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of a museum showcase according to the disclosure will become clearer from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, made with reference to the appended drawings. In such drawings:

FIG. 1 schematically shows a museum display case according to a first embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the lower part of the display case in FIG. 1 , showing the air circulation circuits;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 2 , referring to a variant of the display case in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 schematically shows a museum display case according to a second embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In FIGS. 1 and 2, 10 shows a museum display case, which comprises a base 11 topped by a case 12. In the base 11, there is a technical space 13, in which control equipment and systems for the display case 10 are housed, which will be discussed below. In the case 12, there is a display space 14, in which the objects intended for viewing by the public are accommodated; for this purpose, there is a display plate 15 in the display space 14 on which the objects can be placed.

The case 12 is bordered by walls 16, all transparent. One or more of the walls 16 may be a wall that can be opened in a known manner, for example by hinging or sliding.

The display case 10 is equipped with a filtration system 20, inserted in a first air circulation circuit 21. The first air circulation circuit 21 comprises, in this order, an intake port 22, a first section 24 of circuit, one or more passive mechanical filters 25, a second section 26 of circuit and a delivery port 27. The intake port 22 and the delivery port 27 are both facing into the display space 14, so that this display space 14 is traversed by the air circulating in the first circuit 21. The delivery port 27 is shaped like an open-ended chamber of the second section 26 of the circuit 21, while the intake port 22 is formed by the free space around the display plate 15; the first section 24 of circuit is thus simply open on the free space below the display plate 15.

The filters 25 are housed in the base 11, as are the sections 24 and 26 of the circuit 21, and are combined with a pumping system 28, e.g., a fan, to induce air circulation in the circuit 21.

The display case 10 is then equipped with a climate control system 30, inserted into a second air circulation circuit 31. The second air circulation circuit 31 comprises in this order an intake port 32, a compartment 33 (e.g., a drawer for housing hygroscopic material, such as silica gel), a fan 38, a section 36 of the circuit and a delivery port 37. The intake port 32 and the delivery port 37 are both facing into the display space 14, so that this display space 14 is traversed by the air circulating in the second circuit 31. The delivery port 37 is shaped like an open-ended chamber of the section 36 of the circuit 31, while the intake port 32 is formed by the free space around the display plate 15; the compartment 33 is thus simply open to the free space below the display plate 15.

In a variant of the display case 10, referred to as display case 110 and shown in FIG. 3 , the climate control system 30 also comprises a thermal machine 135, between the compartment 33 and the section 36 of the circuit 31. In the presence of the thermal machine 135, the fan 38 can be omitted, or rather replaced by a fan inside the machine 135. Note that in FIG. 3 , all the elements of the display case 110 that correspond to equivalent elements of the display case 10 are marked with the same reference numbers.

The thermal machine 135 may be of various types, capable of regulating the temperature and/or relative humidity of the air circulating therein. It could therefore also be a relatively simple device, such as a water atomiser, if the desired thermal intervention is only an increase in relative humidity, or a heater, if the desired thermal intervention is only an increase in temperature; it could instead be a more complex machine, such as a refrigeration cycle machine, if the relative humidity and/or air temperature needs to be reduced.

The thermal machine 135 is housed in the base 11, as are the compartment 33 and the section 36 of the circuit 31.

Similarly, the display case 10 may lack the compartment 33 (or may be devoid of hygroscopic material) if the thermal machine 135 is capable of meeting all the relative humidity control requirements on its own.

FIG. 4 schematically shows a museum display case 210 according to a different embodiment of the disclosure.

Similarly to the display case 10, the display case 210 comprises a base 211 surmounted by a case 212. In the base 211, there is a technical space 213, in which control equipment and systems for the display case 210 are housed, which will be discussed below. In the case 212, there is a display space 214, in which the objects intended for viewing by the public are accommodated; for this purpose, there is a display plate 215 in the display space 214 on which the objects can be placed.

The case 212 is bordered by walls 216, all transparent except for one opaque wall 217. One or more of the walls 216 may be a wall that can be opened in a known manner, for example by hinging or sliding. The display case 210 can therefore be placed against a wall of the museum environment with its own opaque wall 217.

The display case 210 is equipped with a filtration system 220, inserted in a first air circulation circuit 221. The first air circulation circuit 221 comprises in this order an intake port 222, a first section 224 of circuit, one or more filters 225, a second section 226 of circuit and a delivery port 227. The intake port 222 and the delivery port 227 are both facing into the display space 214, so that this display space 214 is traversed by the air circulating in the first circuit 221. The second section of circuit 226 extends vertically into the opaque wall 217 and the delivery port 227 is shaped like an end chamber of this second section 226, located high up in the display space 214. The intake port 222 is formed by the free space around the display plate 215; the first section 223 of circuit is therefore simply open to the free space below the display plate 215.

The filters 225, like the filters 25, are housed in the base 211 and are coupled to a pumping system 228, e.g., a fan, to induce air circulation in the circuit 221.

The display case 210 is then equipped with a climate control system 230, inserted into a second air circulation circuit 231. The second air circulation circuit 231 comprises in this order an intake port 232, a compartment 233 (e.g., a drawer for housing hygroscopic material, such as silica gel), a fan 238, a section 236 of the circuit and a delivery port 237. The intake port 232 and the delivery port 237 are both facing into the display space 214, so that this display space 214 is traversed by the air circulating in the second circuit 231. The circuit section 236 extends vertically into the opaque wall 217 and the delivery port 237 is shaped like an open-ended chamber of the section 236 of the second circuit 231, while the intake port 232 is formed by the free space around the display plate 215; the compartment 233 is thus simply open to the free space below the display plate 215.

As in the case of the display case 10, a thermal machine may be provided, which may be of various types, capable of regulating the temperature and/or relative humidity of the air circulating therein; the thermal machine may include a pumping system, such as a fan, which replaces the fan 238.

From the above description, it is clear that with a display case 10, 110 or 210 according to the disclosure, it is possible to regulate and control filtration and climate control completely independently of each other. Both of these operations can then be optimised so that the filtering and climate control capabilities can be utilised to their fullest potential without unnecessary waste of resources. 

1. A museum display case comprising: a display space; a filtration system; a climate control system for treating air in the display space; and a first air circulation circuit and a second air circulation circuit, separate from each other and both originating and terminating in the display space, wherein: the filtration system is included in the first air circulation circuit, and the climate control system is included in the second air circulation circuit.
 2. The museum display case according to claim 1, wherein each said first air circulation circuit and second air circulation circuit comprises: a pumping system for moving the air within the air circulation circuit from an intake port facing into the display space to a delivery port facing into the display space.
 3. The museum display case according to claim 2, wherein the intake port is in a remote position with respect to the delivery port.
 4. The museum display case according to claim 3, further comprising at least one opaque vertical wall, wherein: each said first air circulation circuit and second air circulation circuit comprises a section extending in the opaque vertical wall, and one of the intake port and the delivery port is located at a top of the display space, and the other of the intake port and the delivery port is located at a bottom of the display space.
 5. The museum display case according to claim 4, wherein: the delivery port of the first air circulation circuit and the delivery port of the second air circulation circuit are located at the top of the display space, and the intake port of the first air circulation circuit and the intake port of the second air circulation circuit are located at the bottom of the display space.
 6. The museum display case according to claim 2, further comprising all-transparent vertical walls, wherein: the intake port and the delivery port of the first air circulation circuit and the second air circulation circuit are all located at a bottom of the display space.
 7. The museum display case according to claim 1, wherein the filtration system comprises at least one passive mechanical filter.
 8. The museum display case according to claim 1, wherein the climate control system comprises a compartment containing hygroscopic material and/or a thermal machine, for controlling humidity and/or air temperature. 